Tag: wpja

Among the 50 best wedding documentary photographers in the world

“WPJA proudly recognizes Sergio Cueto as a TOP International Wedding Photographer. Members holding the most contest points at the end of each year are ranked as TOP Wedding Photographers.”

These words head the ranking of the 100 best documentary wedding photographers in 2018 according to the WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association). When I joined this association in mid-2018 I did not expect to even appear in that selection of the 100 best photographers, so finding my name in the 39 position has been both a surprise and an honor.

The precepts of the WPJA, with which I feel specially identified, is summarized in this paragraph extracted from their website:

“As wedding photojournalists, we measure ourselves against our ability to capture moments in space and time. It therefore follows that we do not create such moments nor stage tableaux to reenact them. WPJA winning photographs are candid portrayals of actual people participating in an actual event expressing genuine emotion — or, at times, the internal struggle to avoid too much emotion.”

Awards should never be the motivation for wedding photographers, but give our clients the best possible testimony of their wedding so that, over the years, the photographs will thrill them the same as the first day. This recognition is dedicated to all “my sweethearts” of 2018, those who have trusted my vision to photograph one of the most special days of their lives.

In the same way, being recognized in the 37th position among the best international art photographers by the WPJA Artistic Guild has been an even bigger surprise, since I only entered in half of the year’s contests. In this category, instead of real moments, pictures and details of the wedding day are awarded.